Method of treatment of viral infection including HIV using water soluble fullerenes

ABSTRACT

A water soluble derivative of buckministerfullerene (C 60 ) having antiviral and virucidal properties is used to inhibit human retroviral replication and infections. The derivatized fullerene is symmetrically substituted with polar organic moieties containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally further containing oxygen or nitrogen.

This is a divisional of copending application, Ser. No. 09/246,011,filed on Sep. 21, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,391, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 08/184,922, filed Jan. 24, 1994, now U.S. Pat.5,811,460.

This work was supported by U.S. Government grants: NIGMS grant GM39552and NSF grant DMR9111097; Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. PublicHealth Service grants AI 32903 and AI 25899; National Science Foundationgrants DMR-88-20933, DMR-91-11097, and CHE 89-08323; and, NIH AIDSResearch and Reference Program grant Nos. HIV-1G910 6 and HIV 1H1122.The U.S. Government may have rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to compounds used for chemotherapeutic treatmentof infections produced by human retroviruses and to methods for theiruse in treatment of such diseases as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,AIDS, or AIDS-Related Complex (ARC).

2. Description of Related Art

There have been more than 100,000 deaths from AIDS and ARC to date, yetcurrently no treatments for the diseases effect cures. The drugs AZT,DDI and DOC have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, andwhen used alone or in combination prolong the life of patients, but donot produce cures. Approximately seventy additional compounds are in theearly stages of clinical testing, but FDA approval for additionalcompounds has not been forthcoming.

Many of the presently known compounds are toxic and may be eliminated inhumans rapidly, requiring heavy dosage schedules. In addition, mostnucleoside analogs, such as AZT, require initial phosphorylation bycellular kinases for activation.

An especially promising target for treatment and prevention of AIDS andARC is the HIV protease. HIV produces a small, dimeric aspartyl proteasewhich specifically cleaves the polyprotein precursors encoding thestructural proteins and enzymes of the virus. This proteolytic activityis absolutely required for the production of mature, infectious virionsand is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Theresolved X-ray crystallographic structures of HIV-1 protease and ahandful of HIV-1 protease-inhibitor complexes are available. The activesite of this enzyme can be roughly described as an open-ended cylinderwhich is lined almost exclusively by hydrophobic amino acids (FIG. 1A).Notable exceptions to this hydrophobic trend are the two catalyticaspartic acids (Asp25, Asp125), which catalyze the attack of water onthe scissile peptide bond of the substrate. Efforts in moleculargenetics, protein biochemistry, enzymology, medical chemistry, virology,X-ray crystallography, molecular modeling have all been marshalled toidentify specific inhibitors of this critical viral enzyme (C. Debouck,AIDS Res. and Human Retroviruses, 8:153-164, 1992). Some of thesecompounds have also demonstrated activity in humans infected with HIV-1,as measured by p24 decline and increased CD4⁺ cell counts.

The research on buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) and other fullerenes in thelast few years has been extraordinary. Fullerenes are hollow moleculescomposed of pure carbon atoms. Typically, fullerenes each have 12pentagons, but differing numbers of hexagons. The pentagons are requiredin order to allow curvature and eventual closure of the surface uponitself. The most abundant species to date is the C₆₀ molecule known asbuckminsterfullerene. Its crystal and molecular structure have beenresolved using single-crystal x-ray diffraction methods (S. Liu, et al.,Science, 254:408-410, 1991). C₆₀ consists of 12 pentagons and 20hexagons and is classified as an icosahedron, the highest symmetrystructure possible.

Naturally occurring fullerenes have recently been found in thegeological environment of Shunga, a town in the lake region of Karweliain Russia (P. R. Buseck, et al, Science, 247:215-217, 1992). Syntheticfullerenes are produced by high temperature vaporization of solidgraphite rods by resistive heating or arc heating in the presence of afew to several torr of rare gas. The soot produced by the vaporizationcontains varying levels of fullerenes, depending on the vaporizationconditions. However, the majority of the fullerenes produced are C₆₀ andC₇₀, with C₆₀ being more abundant. The fullerenes are extracted from thesoot by placing the soot into a solvent in which the fullerenes aresoluble. The solution is then filtered and allowed to evaporate to yieldfullerene powders. Alternatively, the fullerenes can be purchasedcommercially.

A host of physical and chemical properties of these materials have nowbeen established, and their potential applications in several areas arenow apparent. To date, however, no specifically targeted fullerenemolecule, with a special biological function in mind, has been prepared.There exist a variety of procedures for functionalization of C₆₀fullerenes. (See, for example, Fullerenes Synthesis, Properties, andChemistry of Large Carbon Clusters, G. Hammond, et al., Eds., ACSSymposium Series 481, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., 1992;see entire issue No. 3 of Acc. Chem. Res., 25, 1992; A. Hirsch, et al.,Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 31, 766, 1992). Nearly all the fullerenescharacterized are nonderivatized homologs (spheroids, tubes, etc.) ofC₆₀, and like C₆₀ itself, are highly hydrophobic and insoluble inaqueous media. Recently fullerene-cyclodextrin inclusion compoundscomprising C₆₀ embedded in γ-cyclodextrin (T. Anderson, et al., J. Chem.Soc. Chem. Commun., 1992:604-606, 1992) and fullerenes containingmultiple covalently attached substituents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,248) ormultiple covalently attached amine-derived substituents (A. Hirsch, etal., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 30:1309-1310, 1991; V. Mehrotra, etal., Chem. Mat., 4:20-22, 1992) have been shown to have watersolubility, but the lability of the former, and the configurationaldynamism and complex isomerism of the latter compounds would preclude aready and unequivocal evaluation of structure-activity data inbiological systems. Polyhydroxylated, water-soluble fullerenes have alsobeen prepared, but no single, fully characterized isomer has beenisolated to date (L. Y. Chiang, et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun.,1992:1701-1793, 1992).

The need exists, therefore, for therapeutic compounds useful inameliorating or preventing retroviral infections, especially AIDS andAIDS-Related Complex (ARC). The present invention provides derivativesof C₆₀ that are water soluble at physiologic conditions and bothprophylatically and therapeutically effective against the virus thatcauses AIDS and ARC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ability of water soluble buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) derivatives toinactivate virus through binding with the active site of HIV-1 protease(HIVP) and/or inhibition of reverse transcriptase has been examinedthrough model building and simple physical chemical analysis. Theprediction that these compounds should bind to the active site of theHIVP protease, and thereby act as inhibitors, has been borne out byassay of cells acutely and chronically infected with humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The complexes generated via computer models suggest that the virucidalactivity of C₆₀ derivatives results from a snug fit of the fullereneinto the active site of the HIVP protease, thereby removing at least 298Å² of primarily nonpolar surface from solvent exposure and drivingligand/protein association. A method for screening the binding ofcandidate buckministerfullerene derivatives with the active site of HIVPusing computer simulation is also provided.

Kinetic analysis of HIVP in the presence of a water-soluble C₆₀derivative, bis(phenethylamino-succinate), suggests a competitive modeof inhibition. This is consistent with and supports the predictedbinding mode.

The water soluble C₆₀ derivatives for inactivating HIV by interactingwith HIV by Van der Waals contacts with the nonpolar HIVP surface, aresubstituted symmetrically with organic moieties comprising from 1 toabout 20 carbon atoms each and optionally further comprising polarheteroatoms, such as oxygen and nitrogen. The preferred fullerenederivatives are diamino derivatives synthesized in three steps from C₆₀via a suitably substituted diphenyldiazomethane. High-resolution massspectrometric analysis of these compounds is possible only under themild conditions of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fouriertransform mass spectrometry. Direct infrared or ultraviolet laserdesorption degrades the compounds so that only C₆₀ ions are observed, ineither positive or negative mode. Virus inactivation assays are providedfor confirming activity of the C₆₀ derivatives against humanimmunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2. Inhibition of acutelyand chronically HIV-1 infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) and chronically infected lymphocytes (e.g., H9 cells) by thepreferred water soluble bis(monosuccinimide) derivative ofp,p′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-diphenyl has an EC₅₀ at a concentration of 7 μM,and no cytotoxicity is shown in uninfected PBMC as well as other celllines. Inhibition of protease (HIVP) and reverse transcriptase (HIVRT)is also shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color.Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by thePatent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of necessary fee.

FIG. 1 shows photographs of computer simulations of the HIV-1 protease.

FIG. 1A shows a “Front” view of the HIV-1 protease. Color coding is asfollows: Yellow: Leu, Ile, Phe, Tyr, Val, Trp, Pro, Gly, Ala. Blue: Lys,Arg. Red: Asp, Glu. Cyan: Thr, Ser, Gln, Asn, Cys, Met, His. Gray:regions greater than 10 Å from the center of the active site.

FIG. 1B shows the top scoring C₆₀ orientation from the same view as inFIG. 1A. The C₆₀ is colored magenta, and the van der Waals surface ofthe active site and ligand are shown.

FIG. 1C shows a 90° cross section of the complex of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 shows compound 2c wherein X=HOC(O)(CH₂)₂C(O)NH(CH₂).

FIG. 3A shows the most favorable DOCK3 complex of compound 1 with theHIVP molecule in “front” view.

FIG. 3B shows the most favorable DOCK3 complex of compound 1 with theHIVP molecule in “top” view. For clarity, only the α-carbon chain traceof HIVP is shown.

FIG. 4 shows a double reciprocal plot of inhibition of HIVP bycompound 1. Standard errors are indicated in brackets.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of compound 2.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the DOCK3 complex of compound2 with the HIVP. FIG. 6A shows the “front” view of the complex. FIG. 6Bshows the “side” view of the complex. Close approach of compound 2 aminogroups and HIVP catalytic aspartate oxygens is highlighted with dashedlines. For clarity, only the catalytic aspartates and the α-carbon chaintrace of HIVP are shown.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the high-resolution positive ion MALDI Fouriertransform mass spectrum of 2c, where a=COCH₂CH₂COOH.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the high-resolution negative ion MALDI Fouriertransform mass spectrum of 2c, where a=COCH₂CH₂COOH.

FIG. 9 shows graphs of mass molecular ion measurements of 2c: FIG. 9Ashows measurements using [M⁺Na]⁺, polyethyleneglycol-1000 as internalcelebrant. FIG. 9B shows measurements using M⁻,2,4,6-tris(perfluoroheptyl)-1,3,5-triazine as internal celebrant.

FIG. 10A is a computer model of the active site of HIVP, showing thatthe active site does not have a perfectly circular cross section, butrather is oval.

FIG. 10B is a computer model of the complex of C₆₀ with the HIVP,showing that the complex leaves solvated surface area on either side ofthe core C₆₀.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein are derivatives of buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) that arewater soluble at physiologic conditions and have virucidal activity,especially against the viruses causing AIDS and ARC in humans. Thefullerene derivatives of this invention inactivate the protease specificto the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (“HIVP”). HIVP is characterized byan active site in the form of a cylinder or “tunnel” lined almostexclusively by hydrophobic amino acids (as shown in FIG. 1A) with aninterior diameter of about 10 Å. Contained within the active site aretwo anionic residues, Asp₂₅ and Asp₁₂₅. A C₆₀ molecule (a fullerene) hasan external diameter of 10 Å, approximately the same radius as thecylinder that describes the active site of the HIVP. Since C₆₀ and itsderivatives are primarily hydrophobic, it has been discovered hereinthat a strong hydrophobic interaction exists between the C₆₀ derivativeand the active site surfaces of the HIVP protease sufficient to block orpartially block the catalytic aspartates at the enzymatic active site.This interaction with the protease that activates HIVP makes C₆₀derivatives inhibitors of the HIVP. This interaction is furtherincreased if the C₆₀ is substituted on its surface with polarsubstituents symmetrically situated around a central axis. The polarsubstituents can be any alkyl or aryl-alkyl substituent, particularlythose substituted with nitrogen and oxygen, containing from one to about20 carbon atoms. These polar substituents are selected and oriented withrespect to the C₆₀ molecule so that, upon binding of the derivative withthe active site of HIVP, the polar substituents generally extend fromthe C₆₀ along or through the mouth of the cylinder that describes theactive site of the HIVP so as to be in contact with the solution.

Additional non-limiting examples of the water-soluble C₆₀ derivativesuseful in the practice of this invention are shown in Table 1

TABLE 1

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

k.

l.

m.

n.

The advantages of C₆₀ derivatives for blocking the active site of HIVPover those known in the art are twofold. First of all, the C₆₀derivatives of this invention represent nonpeptide-based compounds that,through careful modeling, result in effective, tightly binding HIVPinhibitors. Second, the buckminsterfullerenes present a rigid,conformationally restricted scaffold upon which to mount nonpolarchemical moieties for establishing a hydrophobic interaction between thenonpolar active site surface of HIVP and the C₆₀ surface. Because of thesteric bulk of C₆₀ and its complementarity to the active site surface,there are severe limitations to the orientations it can adopt within theactive site. Essentially, the principal degree of freedom of a C₆₀derivative of this invention within the active site is rotation aroundthe central axis of symmetry. All of these attributes simplify theproblem of predicting the binding modes of various derivatives.

The C₆₀ derivatives of this invention are soluble in water, beingsolubilized by attachment of polar substituents, including ionic groups,situated in a well-defined position on the surface of the fullerene.That is, it is preferred that the compounds be substituted withsubstituents symmetrically located, isometrically pure, andconfigurationally stable covalently derivatized fullerenes. As the term“symmetrical” is used herein the substituents need not be identical tobe symmetrically located. As used herein derivatives ofbuckminsterfullerenes that contain a functionalizable carbon atom arereferred to as “fulleroids.” As used herein, “methanofullerene” is afulleroid having a closed cyclopropane ring rather than an annulene(ring-opened fulleroid) structure.

The synthetic methodology presented herein provides a method forfacilely and specifically modifying the C₆₀ surface to obtain watersoluble, isomerically pure, symmetrical C₆₀ derivatives with virucidaland antiviral properties against HIV. As used herein, the term“virucidal” shall mean that the compound acts outside cells to preventbinding to a receptor. As used herein, the term “antivral” shall meanthat the compound is effective intracellularly to inhibit or kill virus.Among the various methods available for functionalization of C₆₀, themethod of cyclo addition is by far the simplest and most versatile.Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the fulleroids aremethanofullerenes derived from diphenyldiazomethane since synthesis ofthe precursor benzophenone derivatives is generally facile. An exampleof the reaction scheme for production of a methanofullerene derivatizedC₆₀ compound that is water soluble at physiologic conditions isaccording to Scheme I.

An example of a reaction scheme for production of an annulenederivatized C₆₀ compound that is water soluble at physiologic conditionsis according to Scheme II.

The x-ray crystal structure of HIVP is well known and thethree-dimensional coordinates are available in standard Brookhavendatabase format from Protein DataBank, file 3hvp. Computer models basedupon the known three-dimensional coordinates of HIVP and C₆₀ can beutilized to develop compounds having the physical attributes required bythis invention that bind tightly to HIVP, preferably to the active siteof HIVP. Programs suitable for generating predicted three-dimensionalstructures from two-dimensional data, include: SYBYL (Version 5.4) andConcord Tripos Associates, St. Louis, Mo.), 3-D Builder (Chemical DesignLtd., Oxford, U.K.), CataLyst (Bio-CAD Corp., Mountain View, Calif.),Daylight (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.) and MINDOCK and DOCK3(E. C. Meng, J. Comp. Chem., 13:505-524, 1992. The program is availablethrough University of California, San Francisco). To modelcomplementarity, docking, and binding of test complexes of C₆₀ and HIVP,computer simulations were generated via the program DOCK3 using themethod described in Example 1. The surface that is desolvated due tocomplex formation between these compounds is shown to be almostexclusively hydrophobic. In addition, kinetic analysis supports acompetitive mode of inhibition of a tested C₆₀ derivative, consistentwith the computer models of complexes generated.

In general, the goal of structure based inhibitor design is to design amolecule that is 1) complementary in shape to the active site of thetarget and 2) has surfaces that are chemically appropriate to the activesite surfaces. As used herein the term “chemically appropriate” meansthat (a) non-polar inhibitor surfaces are in contact with non-polarproteins surfaces leading to association driven by hydrophobic effect,(b) hydrogen bond donating species are in contact with hydrogen bondaccepting species and (c) positively charged species are in contact withnegatively charged species.

Preferably the programs DOCK3 and MINDOCK are used to generate complexesof modeled inhibitors with the active site of the HIVP to determinechemically appropriate protease inhibitor compounds, although oneskilled in the art will understand that alternative methods can be used.Because of subtleties in the energetics of binding, the potentialstrength of binding is approximated by examining the types of surfacesthat are brought into contact upon formation of the complex. The HIVPactive site surface is dominated by non-polar amino acids.Appropriateness of fullerene compounds in binding to the HIVP is basedon the non-polar surface of the fullerene interacting with these HIVPsurfaces. In model complexes, this type of surface desolvation accountsfor <90% of the surface desolvated. From simple model systems thestrength of binding is known to depend upon this type of nonpolarsurface desolvation and this is the major interaction for nonpolarfullerene derivatives. Therefore, an estimation of binding strength canbe made from calculating the amount of surface desolvated by formationof a complex between a fullerene and the HIVP.

The method for computing the desolvation energy released upon formationof an inhibitor/HIVP complex comprises the following steps:

1. Prepare the atomic resolution structure of the HIVP;

In general, the uncomplexed, or “open” structure of the HIVP (Brookhavenprotein data bank #3hvp) is used for modeling, since this structure morenearly approximates the ground-state conformation of the HIVP.Therefore, as a first approximation, its conformational energy can beignored in the evaluation of binding free energy. Utilizing theassociated programs of DOCK3, gridded representations of the active siteand surrounding portions of the HIVP are generated. Each grid pointcontains information as to the Van der Waals surface parameter as wellas the electrostatic potential at that point. This gridded values arelater utilized by DOCK3 to score the energies of the orientations ofinhibitors generated.

2. Model the structure of the hypothetical inhibitor;

The hypothetical structure is drawn up using the SYBYL package. If anyconformational flexibility is present in the molecule, lowest energyconformations are initially set, and the molecule is then minimized.Electrostatics for the molecule are generated using the Gasteiger-Huckeloption. The molecule is then saved in the .mol2 format that DOCK3 andMINDOCK require.

3. Fit the model of the inhibitor into the active site of the HIVP modelusing the programs DOCK3 and MINDOCK;

The inhibitor structure is fitted into the active site using eitherDOCK3 or MINDOCK. Using the Single Mode, each program generatesliterally thousands of orientations of the inhibitors within the activesite of the HIVP, which are evaluated by the program for reasonable Vander Waals contacts and complementary electrostatics. The main differencebetween DOCK3 and MINDOCK is that the latter does a rigid-bodyminimization of the inhibitor with respect to the HIVP as an additionalstep after each orientation so that a more efficient search of the spacein the active site can be effected. Summation of all of the Van derWaals and electrostatic interactions results in an energy score used torank the top conformations.

4. Generate molecular surfaces for the inhibitor, the HIVP, and for theinhibitor/HIVP complex;

The energy score generated by the computer program must be adjusted toarrive at the binding energy because several components of binding freeenergy are not taken into account. The first such factor is salvationeffects. Electrostatic interactions are significantly muted when theytake place in aqueous solution due to the energy cost of desolvating thecharged species that are interacting. For example, attraction of apositive charge and a negative charge is decreased approximately 20 foldin water solution as compared with in a vacuum. A second importantsalvation effect is the hydrophobic effect, the tendency for non-polar,uncharged species to bind to each other in aqueous solution. This effectis thought to be caused by a restructuring of water as it comes intocontact with non-polar surfaces. Due to the hydrophobic effect, thestrength of interaction of uncharged, non-polar species in water isunderestimated by simply calculating the Van der Waals interactionsbetween them. However, an accurate estimate of the contribution of thehydrophobic effect to ligand/protein affinity is based on the surfacearea of non-polar atoms removed from water contact upon complexformation. The second factor is translational/rotational entropy, whichis roughly a fixed energy cost paid when two freely moving speciesassociate, thereby eliminating 3 degrees of translational and 3 degreesof rotational freedom.

These complicating factors can be simplified in analysis of fullereneinhibitors of the HIVP because the active site surfaces of HIVP arepredominantly non-polar, as are the surfaces of derivatized fullerenesof this invention. In typical model complexes of fullerene derivatives,<90% of the surfaces that are desolvated upon complex formation arenon-polar carbon surfaces. Therefore, the binding energy (which isrelated to the affinity of binding) can be estimated by looking at hownon-polar surface desolvation in simple model systems affects bindingenergy.

Molecular surfaces are calculated by the program MS, which is a part ofthe MIDAS molecular display package. These can then be broken down andanalyzed.

5. Break down the surfaces transferred according to atom type (e.g.carbon, nitrogen or oxygen);

6. Determine the change in surface area upon complexation according toatom type from the surfaces generated in step 4;

The change in molecular surface upon complex formation is determined bysubtracting the sum of the areas of fully solvated HIVP and inhibitorfrom the area of the complex. In order to determine how much of thisdesolvated surface is non-polar, the contribution from each discreteelement of the surface is summed according to atom type (e.g.,carbon—non-polar; oxygen and nitrogen—polar). This sum is a valuerepresenting the amount of non-polar surface desolvated uponcomplexation, which may then be used to estimate binding energy, andtherefore inhibitor affinity.

7. Estimate the change in binding energy that should accompany thedesolvation of inhibitor and HIVP surfaces upon complexation;

Recent work by Tunon, et al. (Protein Eng., 5:715-716, 1992) has shownthat each square Angstrom of desolvated non-polar molecular surface areais equivalent to about 70 cal/mol of binding energy. This value istherefore used to convert the non-polar surface determined in steps 5and 6 into a binding energy contribution.

8. Use these energies to estimate the binding constant or affinity ofthe inhibitor with the HIVP.

Because of complicating factors, including the issue ofrotational/translational entropy described above, the binding energy isbest understood as relative to that of a known compound, to estimate theimprovement in binding in comparison to the known compound. Therefore,the change in non-polar surface desolvation is measured relative to thechange that occurs with a compound that has a known binding affinity.The increase in binding energy calculated above is then taken as thepotential improvement in binding of the unknown compound relative to theknown compound.

The model of underivatized C₆₀ demonstrates the potential for C₆₀-basedinhibitors of the HIVP. The main driving force behind the association ofthe HIVP and the fullerene derivative examined is a presumablyhydrophobic interaction between the nonpolar active site surface of HIVPand the C₆₀ surface. Upon formation of the C₆₀-HIVP complex, about 298Å² of primarily hydrophobic surface area is removed from solventexposure, resulting in a free energy release of about 7-11 kcal/mol. Inaddition there is an opportunity for increasing binding energy by theintroduction of specific interactions. One mode of electrostaticinteraction is a salt bridge between the catalytic aspartates on thefloor of the active site and a cationic site on the C₆₀ surface. It isknown that several dicationic metals, such as Cu⁺⁺ are effectiveinhibitors of the HIVP (T. C. Woon, et al., Int. J. Biochem.,24:911-914, 1992; Z. Y. Zhang, et al., Biochemistry, 30:8717-8721,1991). The K_(i) values for divalent cations with the HIVP active siteare in the micromolar range, corresponding to ≈8 kcal/mol-loss ofbinding energy, over and above the Gibbs energy loss, due to freezingout translational entropy. It has been shown that introduction of asingle amine/carboxylate salt bridge can increase the binding energy ofa ligand to its receptor by ≈4 kcal/mol (D. Santi, et al., J. Med.Chem., 16:273-280, 1973). Thus, incorporation of even a fraction of thebinding energy due to this type of interaction into a C₆₀ derivativeresults in an improvement in binding energy over the C₆₀ core bindingenergy of several orders of magnitude. Therefore, in one embodiment ofthis invention the C₆₀ derivative incorporates polar substituents thatprovide a cation site such that a salt bridge can form between theenzymatic aspartates in the active site and the C₆₀ derivative,providing a tight electrostatic interaction therebetween. For instance,direct amino adducts of C₆₀ (A. Hirsch, et al., supra) increase theelectrostatic interaction. However, the stoichiometry of the synthesisof direct amine adducts is hard to control and does not predictablyresult in symmetrical molecules. Hence, these derivatives are notpreferred.

Synthesis of the preferred symmetrical, isometrically pure, and watersoluble buckminsterfullerenes of this invention, which incorporatemoieties necessary to solubilize the molecule at physiologic conditionsof pH and orient the C₆₀ with respect to the active site of HIVP, can begenerally carried out as follows. The substituted diphenyldiazomethaneis prepared in the known manner from the substituted benzophenonehydrazone by oxidation with nickel peroxide. The formation ofintermediate 2a from buckminsterfullerene C₆₀ follows themethanofullerene synthesis method (T. Suzuki, et al., Acc. Chem. Res.,25:157, 1992). The bis(acetamide) is preferably hydrolyzed in aceticacid/aqueous hydrochloric acid and converted to bis(succinamide) 2c bytreatment with succinic anhydride. Compounds 2a-c exhibit the usualmethanofullerene properties. Compound 2c is soluble in water at pH≧7,making it an ideal substrate for evaluation of physiological andpharmaceutical properties of a methanofullerene. A more detaileddescription of the synthesis and characterization of a samplemethanofullerene compound appears in EXAMPLE 5. The difficult step inthe synthesis of these compounds is the hydrolysis of bis(acetamide) 2aintermediate, which we found to be extremely sluggish, requiring workupafter about 16 hours, followed by repeated submission of the unreacted2a to hydrolytic conditions. Many different combinations of solvents andacids were tried to determine optimal conditions as described in EXAMPLE5e below.

The water solubility of the C₆₀ derivatives at physiologic pH, generallyin the range between pH 6 and 8, is not predictable. For instance,sulphone derivatives tested form micellar aggregates and precipitate inthis pH range. Also the hydrochloride salt of compound 2b is found notto be soluble. Surprisingly, however, the tosylate salt iswater-soluble. This is a counterintuitive result since salts whereinboth ions are large usually are water-insoluble and salts of largecations with small anions (and vice versa) are more water-soluble. Inaddition, the N,N,N′,N′ tetramethyl derivative of 2b hydrochloride isalso insoluble in water. Finally, reaction of the N,N,N′,N′ tetramethylderivative with propane sultone affords a zwitterion which is alsoinsoluble in water. To overcome these negative results, 2b was reactedwith succinic anhydride, yielding 2c. The bis sodium salt was sparinglysoluble in water (about 1 mg/mL) and has been found to inhibit (HIVRT).

Thus, compound 2b is a key intermediate for obtaining themethanofullerene C₆₀ water soluble derivatives of this invention.Further derivatization to produce additional water-soluble cationicderivatives of C₆₀ having the necessary physical parameters andcharacteristics to specifically inhibit HIVP can be made by one skilledin the art using known methods for derivatizing the fullerenes.Structural characterization using infrared, UV-vis, and ¹H NMR spectraof the synthetic compound is used to confirm the structure of thecompound of interest. For example, the structure of synthetic 2b wasconfirmed by infrared, UV-vis, and ¹H NMR spectra as described inEXAMPLE 6 to be in good agreement with the proposed structure. Theresonances of the bridgehead carbons for methanofullerenes are in the77-80 ppm region; while those of the fulleroids are in the 137-150 ppmregion (M. Prato, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 115:8479-8480, 1993). The¹³C NMR resonance of the bridgehead atoms of 2b appeared at 79.37 ppm.Based on this fact and the UV-vis spectra of 2a-c all exhibiting thediagnostic 430-nm peak of methanofullerenes (Prato, supra), the 2bcompound was assigned the methanofullerene structure shown in scheme I.

Because the quantities available for analysis are often too small fortraditional elemental analysis, mass spectrometry is preferably used forassessment of elemental composition. Several attempts at fast atombombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) failed to produce spectra with amolecular ion peak, the only observable peaks were due to C₆₀.Similarly, direct laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry(FTMS), using either pulsed carbon dioxide laser desorption (C. L.Wilkins, et al., Anal. Chem., 57:520-524, 1985) or ultraviolet laserdesorption, yielded spectra containing only peaks due to C₆₀ ⁺ ions.However, the somewhat gentler technique of matrix-assisted laserdesorption as described in Examples 6 and 7 did provide the requisiteanalytical information. From the mass spectral experiments, it is clearthat methanofullerene derivatives are readily converted to C₆₀ underFABMS or direct laser desorption conditions, but that use of MALDI-FTMScan suppress this undesired decomposition and provide analytical data onthe unchanged analyte. Thus, it is extremely important to use theappropriate mass spectral technique if reliable conclusions are to bedrawn regarding structures of putative fulleroids and methanofullerenes.

The therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of the compounds of thisinvention has been shown by in vitro assays. The bis(monosuccinimide)derivative of p,p′-bis(2-aminoethyl)diphenyl-C₆₀ (compound 2c), preparedby the fulleroid 25 route, is active against human immunodeficiencyvirus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 (50% effective concentration [EC₅₀]averaging ≈6 μM) in acute or chronically infected human lymphocytes andis active in vitro against 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine-resistant HIV-1(EC₅₀ 3 μM). The virucidal properties of compound 2c were confirmed byvirus inactivation assays. Compound 2c was noncytotoxic up to 100 μM inperipheral blood mononuclear cells and H9, Vero, and CEM cells. Incell-free assays, compound 2c showed comparable activity against HIV-1reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase α (50% inhibitory concentrationof ≈5 μM). Activity against HIV-1 protease, however, was selective.

Thus, the water-soluble fullerenes of this invention have selectiveactivity against HIV-1 in acutely and chronically infected cells.Compound 2c was also shown to have virucidal properties, suggestingdirect interactions between the fullerene and HIV-1. The virucidalproperties of this compound probably account for the major viralinhibitory activity observed in vitro. Although the mechanism ofantiviral action of this compound is not yet known, our results as shownin TABLE 2 suggest that the compound inhibits HIV-1 RT and DNApolymerase α and selectively inhibits HIV-1 protease in cell-freesystems. The finding that the fulleroid compounds of this inventiondemonstrate antiprotease activity in addition to virucidal propertiessuggests that a mechanism other than inhibition of reverse transcriptaseis responsible for the inactivation of virus, and is consistent with thebelief that the therapeutic efficacy of the compounds herein resultsprimarily from their binding to HIVP.

Routine protocols can be followed to determine whether a derivatizedbuckministerfullerene compound has virucidal properties. For instance,to evaluate anti-HIVP activity, an assay with 0.1 M sodium acetatebuffer, pH 5.5, at 37° C. and a concentration of recombinant HIVP enzymeof 0.08 μM can be incubated with the virus and the compound to betested, varying the amount of the compound to determine the IC₅₀sconcentration of the compound. This method is similar to that describedby Ido, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266:24359-24366, 1991). Inhibition istime dependent, and preincubation with the inhibitor results in greaterenzyme inhibition, indicating a slow binding process

Cell culture evaluation techniques well known in the art can also beused to determine the antiviral and antivirucidal properties of thecompounds of this invention. For instance about 200 50% tissue cultureinfective doses of the virus to be tested and 2 ml of the compound to betested are incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. After incubation, a growthmedium is added to each tube and the tube is centrifuged at about 40,000rpm for 30 minutes at 4° C. The supernatant is removed and the viruspellet is resuspended in fresh medium. The virions are added to humanPBMC that has been stimulated for 2 days with phytohemagglutinin in 25cm² flasks in a total of 10 ml of growth medium. After about six days,residual virus in the supernatant are quantitated by an RT assay such asthat described by R. F. Schinazi, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.,36:2423-2431, 1992, or in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ed. byF. M. Ausubel, Current Protocols, Vol. 1, §9.13.3 and in Example 8,Table 2 below.

The inherent problem with approaches aimed at inhibiting HIV and viralproteases is that the compounds must target the virion and penetrate thevirus membrane or must be present in sufficient quantity near the cellmembrane prior to virion budding to bind with the target compound. Inaddition, antiviral compounds such as protease inhibitors must beresistant to degradative enzyme, have a low protein binding affinity,and ideally should be orally bioavailable. These advantages are allprovided by the buckminsterfullerene derivatives of this inventionbecause the fullerene molecule itself is relatively inert as comparedwith peptides and many chemical entities.

Consequently, in one embodiment of the invention the water solublederivatized compounds are used to inhibit human retroviral infections bycontacting cells infected with a retrovirus, such as a strain of HIV,with a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of thisinvention. The contacting may be by any conventional means such asorally, by intravenous or parenteral injection, or by extracorporealcontact via a blood shunting device. The compounds of the invention mayalso be used as a prophylactic against infection by a human retrovirus,such as HIV. In prophylactic use a formulation containing an anti-viraleffective amount of the antiviral compound, such as a contraceptive orlubricant, is applied topically to the area to be protected. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the buckministerfullerene compounds areused for antiviral or antivirucidal treatment and/or prophylaxis incombination with other known protease inhibitors and/or compounds knownto be effective against HIV, such as AZT, DDC, D4T, 3TC and the like.

As used herein, a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antiviralcompound is an amount calculated to achieve and maintain therapeuticblood levels in a human or animal over the period of time desired. Asused herein an antiviral effective amount is one calculated to preventviability of the virus upon contact with infected cells. A virucidaleffective amount is one calculated to prevent viability of cell-freevirus upon contact. These amounts vary with the potency of eachcompound, the amount required for the desired therapeutic orprophylactic effect, the rate of elimination or breakdown of thesubstance by the body once it has entered the bloodstream and the amountof the antiviral compound in the formulation. In accordance withconventional prudent formulating practices, a dosage near the lower endof the useful range of a particular agent is usually employed initiallyand the dosage increased or decreased as indicated from the observedresponse, as in the routine procedure of the physician. However, ingeneral the dosage preferred for the compounds of this invention issufficient to achieve a blood level of between 0.1 and 100 μM,preferably between about 1 and 25 μM.

The following examples illustrate the manner in which the invention canbe practiced. It is understood, however, that the examples are for thepurpose of illustration and the invention is not to be regarded aslimited to any of the specific materials or conditions therein.

EXAMPLE 1 Modeling Complementarity of C₆₀ with the HIVP Active Site

To test the hypothesis regarding the complementarity of the C₆₀ with theHIVP active site, a model of C₆₀ was created and minimized using theSYBYL package (Version 5.4, Tripos Associates, Inc.). Atomic pointcharges were calculated using the Gasteiger-Huckel method. Forconformationally, flexible ligands, torsions were initially set toanticipated low-energy conformers. Minimization to the used modelstructure was performed using the Maximin2 minimizer and Tripos forcefield and parameters. Docking to the active site of the studied proteinwas done using the program DOCK3. Grids required by DOCK3 were generatedagainst the dimer formed from the Protein Data bank file 3hvp, using thestandard AMBER united atom charges and van der Waals parameters. Singlemode runs of modeled compounds against the active site of HIVP wereperformed using the following parameters: dislim=1.500, nodlim=5,ratiom=0.0000, lownod=4, lbinsz=0.4000, lovlap=0.1000, sbinsz=0.8000,and sovlap=0.2000. All molecular graphics were produced using the MIDASPlus system (Available from University of California, San Francisco).Molecular surfaces were generated using the program MS, written byMichael Connolly, University of California, San Francisco, Calif.). Aprobe sphere diameter of 1.4 Å to minimize four water molecules on thesurface of the protein, and default values for van der Waals radii wereused.

The model produced had a diameter within 0.2 Å of the known diameter of10 Å for C₆₀ as spectroscopically determined (S. Liu, supra). This modelwas fitted into the active site of the so-called “open” (i.e.,uncomplexed) form of the HIVP using the program DOCK3, which findsoptimal orientations of a ligand with its receptor, scoring on the basisof van der Waals contacts and complementary electrostatics. Thisprocedure produced complexes with the C₆₀ squarely in the center of theactive site, forming good van der Waals contacts with the active sitesurface, thereby reinforcing our model.

FIGS. 1B and 1C show the highest scoring complex of C₆₀ with HIVP in“front” and “side” views, which show the van der Waals surface contacts.The change in solvent-exposed surface upon binding was determined inorder to approximate the maximum magnitude of hydrophobic interactions.This was accomplished by first determining the total surface area of theactive site and C₆₀ molecules separately and then subtracting the totalsurface area of the highest scoring DOCK3 C₅₀ HIVP complex. All surfaceareas were determined from molecular surfaces generated by the programMS. The calculation indicates that 298 Å² of primarily hydrophobicsurface is removed from solvent exposure by complex formation. Thistotal desolvated surface was further characterized by summing theindividual surface elements according to atom type. The result of thissummation (Table 2) is that the large majority (273 Å² or 92%) of thedesolvated surface is due to C₆₀ carbon/HIVP carbon atom contact. Thesmall amount of oxygen desolvation (7%) is due primarily to the partialblockage of the catalytic aspartates. Using the figure of 69.2 cal/(molÅ²) recently shown to accurately describe the free energy released upondesolvation of hydrophobic molecular surface, (I. Tunon, et al., ProteinEng., 5:715-716, 1992), the calculated resultant free energy gain uponbinding due to the carbon surface that is desolvated is 19 kcal/mol.

In order to estimate an approximate binding constant of a C₆₀derivative, this value has to be corrected for the free energy cost dueto loss of translational/rotational entropy that accompanies binding.This value has been estimated to be on the order of 7-11 kcal/mol. Afterthis energetic cost is taken into account, the result is a totalΔG_(bind) of 8-12 kcal/mol. Converting this to K_(d) values using theexpression ΔG°=−RT ln K_(d) results in dissociation constants on theorder of 10⁻⁶-10⁻⁹ M.

Several factors have been left out of this analysis, for example,rotational entropy persistence of the C₆₀ in the active site,conformational energy of the HIVP, and interaction of the catalyticaspartates with the C₆₀ surface. However, these values are all expectedto be very small. The purpose of this analysis is to account for thefactors influencing binding that are reasonably estimated from ourunderstanding of protein-ligand interactions.

TABLE 2 Breakdown of Molecular Surface Changes upon C₆₀/HIVPComplexation According to Atom Type^(a) Compound C N O Complex (HIVP +C₆₀) 1537.64 109.272 266.456 HIVP 1402.55 112.504 287.898 C₆₀ 408.95 0 0Total Change (Å²) −273.31 −3.232 −21.442 ^(a)The surface areas of thecomplex and of HIVP were determined for an identical subset of the totalprotein structure which contained and flanked the active site.

EXAMPLE 2 Modeling Complementarity of a Water Soluble Derivative of C₆₀with the HIVP Active Site (Compound 2c)

A computer model of the complementarity of bis(phenethylamino-succinate)C₆₀ (compound 2c, FIG. 2), a relatively synthetically accessiblewater-soluble C₆₀ derivative, was generated using the computer programsand procedures described in EXAMPLE 1. The highest scoring DOCK3 complexof this compound with the HIVP again positions the core C₆₀ in thecenter of the active site, with the charged side chains extendingthrough the mouth of the active site into solution as shown in FIG. 3.

EXAMPLE 3 Assay of Inhibition of HIV-1 Protease by Compound 2c

The ability of compound 2c to inhibit the HIVP was assayed with an HPLCmethod as described in R. L DesJarlais, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. SciU.S.A., 87:6644-6648, 1990. The K_(i) value for compound 2c was found tobe 5.3 μM (SE 0.98). Assays were performed in buffer containing 50 mMNaAc pH 5.5, 1.0 M NaCl, 5% glycerol, 1% DMSO, and 2 mM EDTA. Inhibitorwas preincubated with ≈0.05 μg of enzyme for 5 minutes at which time thereaction was initiated by addition of substrate. The reaction wasquenched at <15% product formation by the addition of 15 μL of 10% TFA.The cleavage products of the substrate peptideH-Lys-Ala-Arg-Val-Tyr-p-nitro-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ile-NH2 (made by Bachem,Philadelphia, Pa.) were assayed by HPLC using a 10-40% (acetonitrile,0.1% TFA): (water, 0.1% TFA) gradient over 30 minutes at 1 mL/minute.Product was quantitated by integration of peak areas followed bycomparison to product standard curves.

Determination of kinetic constants was done with the program KinetAsyst(IntelliKinetics) by fitting of the data to the equationv=V_(m)S/K_(m∞)(1+I/K_(i))+S] which describes competitive inhibition.K_(i)Δ: 5.3 μM [SE 0.98]. K_(m): 15.9 μM [2.9]. Vm: 1.9 nM/s [0.1]. Asshown in FIG. 4, the kinetic data fit the pattern of competitiveinhibition well. This supports the proposed model complex, as thepredicted binding mode of the C₆₀ core should preclude any inhibitorbinding while substrate is bound.

The parent compound to compound 2c, where X=(CH₂)₂NH₂, was tested usingsimilar materials and methods and found to have a K_(i) of ≈2 μM. ThisInsensitivity of binding to the nature of the C₆₀ side chain supportsthe predicted binding mode, which positions the side chains away fromthe active site into full solvent contact. It also predicts that theside chains can be selected to increase solubility of the C₆₀ derivativewithout adversely affecting the binding mode.

EXAMPLE 4 Modeling Complementarity of a Water Soluble Derivative of C₆₀with the HIVP Active Site

A computer model of the complementarity of 1,4-diamino C₆₀ (compound 2,FIG. 5), was generated using the computer programs and proceduresdescribed in EXAMPLE 1. As shown in FIG. 6, DOCK3 is able to orient thederivatized compound within the active site, placing the core C₆₀ in asimilar position to that of compound 1, again allowing extensivenonpolar van der Waals surface interaction. In addition, the two aminogroups effectively bridge the oxygens of the catalytic aspartates,approaching within 2.7 Å and 3.4 Å, respectively (N—O) distance), thusmaking these amino/carboxyl interactions good candidates for improvingoverall binding.

EXAMPLE 5

A. Preparation of N-Acetyl-2-pbenyethyhamine.

This compound was prepared from 2-phenylethylamine and acetic anhydrideaccording to a procedure taught by M. E. Smith, et al, J. Am. Chem.Soc., 50:657, 1938, to yield compound 1.

B. Preparation of 4,4′-Bis(N-acetyl-2-aminoethyl)benzophonone (1a).

Compound 1 (3.95 g, 24-2 mmol) was dissolved in CCl₄ (80 mL). Thesolution was cooled in an ice bath, 13.4 g (100 mmol) of AlCl₃ was addedslowly, and the resulting slurry was stirred for 12 h at roomtemperature. The reaction mixture was poured into ice cold 2 N aqueousHCl, made basic with concentrated KOH solution, and extracted withCH₂Cl₂ (400 mL). The organic layer was evaporated, and the crude productwas purified by column is chromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂/MeOH, 95:5v/v). Yield: 3.7 g (82%). A sample was recrystallized fromtoluene/methanol and characterized as follows: mp 176-178° C.; HRMS m/zcalculated for C₂₆H₂₄N₂O₂ 352.179, found 352.1823. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃):δ7.73, 7.31 (2 d, 8H, J=8 Hz, arom H), 5.79 (br s, 2H, NH), 3.54 (m, 4H,CH₂CH₂N), 2.90 (t, 4H, PhCH₂CH₂N), 1.97 (s, 6H, COCH₃). IR (KBr): 3280s, 3060 m, 2910-2850 m, 1635 s, 1545 s, 1280 s cm−¹.

C. Preparation of 4,4-Bis(N-acetyl-2-aminoethyl)benzophenone Hydrazone(1b).

Compound 2 (430 mg, 1.22 mmol) was dissolved in dry ethanol (70 mL). Dryhydrazine (3.5 mL) and acetic acid (7 mL) were added, and the reactionmixture was allowed to reflux for 1.5 h. The solvents were evaporated invacuo, and the product was purified by column chromatography (neutralalumina, CH₂Cl₂/MeOH, 98:2 v/v). Yield: 290 mg (66%) as a glassy solid.¹H NMR (CDCl₃): 7.1-7.43 (m, 8H, arom H), 5.72 and 5.57 (2 br s, 2H,NH), 3.4-3.65 (m, 4H, CH₂CH₂N), 2.70-2.95 (4H, PhCH₂CH₂N), 1.93 and 1.99(2 s, 6H, COCH). HRMS (EI): m/z calcd 366.2056, found 366.2068.

D. Preparation of 4,4′-Bis(N-acetyl-2-aminoethyl)diphenyldiazomethane(1c).

Hydrazone 1b (32 mg, 0.086 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL of freshlydistilled THF. One drop of a saturated solution of NaOH in EtOH and 51mg of nickel peroxide were added. The mixture was stirred over molecularsieves (4 Å) until all the hydrazone had disappeared and one red spotwas visible on TLC (1.5 h). The solution was filtered over a Celite padand used directly for the next step. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): 7.23 (s, 8H, aromH), 5.71 (br s, 2H, NH), 3.52 (m, 4H, C₂CH₂N). 2.83 (4H, PhCH₂CH₂N),1.96 (s, 6H, COCH). IR (neat): 3280, 3090, 2040, 1645, 1545, 1440, 1290cm−¹. UV-vis (THF): 533, 288, 266 nm.

E. Preparation of 4,4-Bis(N-acetyl-2-aminoethyl)dipbenyl C₆₁ (2a).

To a solution of C₆₀ (100 mg, 0.139 mmol) in toluene (400 mL) was addeda solution of compound 1 (50 mg, 0.137 mmol) in THF (70 mL). The mixturewas stirred overnight. The solvent was removed, and the product waspurified by column chromatography (silica, toluene/MeOH, 93:7 v/v). Thepurified product was heated for 16 h in refluxing o-dichlorobenzene. Thesolvent was removed in vacuo, and traces of solvent were removed byprecipitation with methanol from a toluene/methanol solution. Yield: 55mg (38%) of 2a (75% based on consumed C₆₀). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃/CD₃OD): 8.06,7.34 (2 d, 8H, arom H), 6.72 (br s, 2H, NH), 3.48 (t, 4H, CH₂CH₂N), 2.87(4H, PhCH₂CH₂N), 1.95 (s, 6H, COCH₃). IR (KBr): 3280 br, 2930 m, 1655 s,1550 s, 1432 s, 1369 m, 1291 m, 1192 m, 598 w, 581 w, 568 w, 532 s cm⁻¹FABMS (m-nitrobenzyl alcohol): m/z 1057 (M+H)⁺, 720 (C₆₀ ⁺). Anal. Calcdfor C₈₁H₂₄N₂O₂H₂O: C, 90.49; H, 2.34; N, 2.60. Found: C, 90.93; H, 2.55;N, 2.39.

4,4′-Bis(2-aminoethyl)diphenyl C₆₁ (2b). A solution of 25.7 mg ofcompound 2a in acetic acid (7.5 mL) and concentrated aqueous HCl (2 mL)was allowed to reflux overnight. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo toafford the product as its bis(hydrochloride). Yield: 25.0 mg (98%). ¹HNMR (CD₃OD/CS₂): 8.21, 7.43 (2 d, 8H, arom H), 3.18 (t, 4H, CH₂CH₂N)3.01 (4H, PhCH₂CH₂N). IR (KBr): 3400 br, 3020 m, 2915 m, 1608 s, 1505 s,1468 s, 1430 s, 1385 m, 1320 w, 1245 w, 1190 m, 1180 sh, 1125 1090,1020, 960, 900, 815 sh, 800, 748, 715, 615, 590 w, 580 w, 560 w, 530 scm⁻¹. FABMS (m-nitrobenzyl alcohol): m/z 973 (M+H)⁺, 720 (C₆₀ ⁺)

F. Preparation of Water-Soluble C₆₀ Derivative (2c).

To 25 mg of 2b, 2 HCl (0.024 mmol) was added 103 mg (1.02 mmol) ofsuccinic anhydride in 10 mL of dry pyridine. The resulting red solutionwas stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into 2 N aqueousHCl (100 mL) and centrifuged. The precipitate was washed twice withwater and dissolved in 25 mL of 0.1 N aqueous NaOH. The solution wascentrifuged to remove insoluble side products, and the supernatant wasacidified with concentrated aqueous HCl. The resulting precipitate wascentrifuged, washed with water and methanol, and finally dried in vacuo.Yield 25.7 mg (93%). ¹H NMR (CD₃OD/CS₂): 8.10, 7.36 (2 d, 8H, arom H),3.44 (t, 4H, CH₂CH₂N), 2.86 (t, 4H, PhCH₂CH₂N), 2.55 and 2.43 (2 t. 8H,COCH₂CH₂CO). ¹³C NMR (DMSO-₆, 125 MHz): d 173.78, 170.78, 148.93,145.73, 144.58, 144.52, 144.24, 144.09, 143.98, 143.60, 143.30, 142.36,142.30, 141.66, 141.59, 139.97, 139.41, 137.13, 136.75, 130.94, 128.90,79.37, 51.24, 34.87, 30.01, 29.14. IR (KBr): 3425 br, 2925 m. 1706 s,1650 s, 1550, 1427, 1190, 590 m, 575 m, 557 m, 526 s cm−¹. UV-vis(CS₂/MeOH) λmax (nm): 363, 433 (diagnostic for cyclopropane). 500(diagnostic for cyclopropane). Reprecipitation with acid from baseproduced the MS sample which was pure by HPLC (column, VIDAC, C₁₈reverse phase; eluent, 10% MeOH/water; detector, variable wave length,λmax 370 nm; flow rate, 0.5 mL/minute; retention time, 2.9-3.1 minutes(depending on pyridine concentration); impurity retention time, 5.87minutes). Minor impurities with a dissimilar retention time to that of2c appear to be in the methanolic pyridine used for elution, asdetermined from a blank run l100 gain). The pyridine salt in methanolshows no impurities within experimental error (machine integration,100%).

EXAMPLE 6 Mass Spectrometry, Sample Preparation

Samples were prepared by mixing approximately 100 μg of analyte in amethanol:CS₂ solution (2:1 by volume) with 300 μL of a 50 mmol/L2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (Fluka Chemical Co., Buchs, Switzerland)matrix solution containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (Mallinkrodt, St.Louis, Mo.) in methanol and 30 μL of a 60 mmol/L aqueous NaCl solution.The resulting solutions were sprayed as aerosols onto a rotatingstainless steel probe tip for homogenous deposition.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Fourier transformmass spectra (FTMS) (D. L. DeCamp, et al., J. Med. Chem., 35:3426-3428,1992) were obtained with 357-nm radiation from a Lambda Physik(Götingen, Germany) FL-2001 dye laser, pumped by a Lambda PhysikEMG-201-MSC excimer laser (operating at 308 nm, 180 mJ/28 ns pulse) anda Millipore Extrel (Madison, Wis.) FTMS-2000 dual cell spectrometerequipped with a 7-T superconducting magnet. Spectra were obtained usinga gated trapping sequence (DeCamp, supra; C. Köster, J. Am. Chem. Soc.,114:7572-7574, 1992) with ejection of ions below m/z 750 and a 200-Vpeak-to peak chirp excitation from 1 to 200 kHz at 180 Hz/μs sweep ratefollowed by detection. Each spectrum resulted from averaging between 2and 27 time domain scans, acquiring 65,536 data points per scan. Theaveraged time domain data were augmented by an equal number of zeroesand base-line corrected prior to magnitude mode Fourier transformation.No anodization was used. Polyethyleneglycol-1000 was used as an externalcelebrant for the full spectra. Accurate mass measurements of molecularion species were made by adding a small quantity of an internalcelebrant to the sample solutions prior to deposition on the sampleprobe. Polyethyleneglycol-1000 served as an internal celebrant (9-pointcalibration) for [M⁺Na]⁺ mass determination, and2,4,6-tris(perfluoroheptyl)-1,3,5triazine (Fluka Chemical, Buchs,Switzerland) was used as an internal celebrant (2-point calibration, M−and [M−F]-) for analyte M− mass determinations.

EXAMPLE 7 High-Resolution Mass Spectra

FIG. 7 contains the high resolution MALDI-FTMS (matrix-assisted laserdesorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectra) (J. A. Castoro, etal., Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrum., 6:239-241, 1992) positive ionspectrum of compound 2c. As expected, almost all of the ions observedare sodium attachment ions. The most abundant ion is the molecularsodium attachment ion [M+Na]⁺, with m/z 1195.2. The second and thirdmost abundant ions correspond to loss of either one or two —COCH₂CH₂COOHgroups. Similarly, the most abundant ion in the negative ion spectrum(FIG. 8) is the M− ion, with m/z 1171.8. The other two most abundantions correspond to loss of H₂O and loss of a —COCH₂CH₂COOH fragment.Mass resolution of approximately 8000 is obtained for the positive ionspectrum and resolution of about 9000 for the negative ion spectrum.

In another set of measurements, with the appropriate internal calibrantsadded, an average mass measurement difference of 2.1 ppm from thecalculated mass of the all ¹²C molecular ion species [M⁺Na]⁺ wasmeasured for four separate spectra, each obtained by averaging thespectra resulting from nine laser shots. For the negative molecular ion,M⁻, an average mass accuracy of 7.1 ppm was obtained from all the ¹²Cions determined from three spectra, each resulting from time domainaddition of 27 spectra acquired using the corresponding number of lasershots. FIGS. 9A and 9B show typical mass measurement accuracy resultsfor the molecular ion region of the positive and negative ion spectra.No peaks attributable to C₆₀ ions were seen in either positive ornegative ion MALDI spectra.

EXAMPLE 8 Assays of Antiviral Activity

Compound 2c was evaluated for antiviral activity in cells acutely andchronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Theresults are shown in TABLE 3 below. Reverse transcriptase (RT) levelsassociated with virus were determined with virus concentrated from cellculture supernatants by high-speed centrifugation to reduce the chancesof drug carryover in the enzyme assay using the method described in R.F. Schinazi, et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 36:2423-2431, 1992.In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) infected with HIVtype 1_(LAI) (HIV-1_(LAI)) compound 2c demonstrated activity with amedian effective concentration (EC₅₀) (mean±standard deviation) of7.3±5.9 μM. Surprisingly, this water-soluble fulleroid was also found tobe effective in chronically infected H9 cells, with an EC₅₀ of 10.8±8.2μM. Compound 2c appeared to be effective in human PBMC acutely infectedwith HIV-2_(ROD), with an EC₅₀ of 5.5±3.8 μM. As shown by the data inTABLE 3, 3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) used as a positive control hadsignificant activity against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in acutely infected cellsbut no effect in chronically infected H9 cells. However, in acutelyinfected cells, AZT was markedly more potent than compound 2c.

To determine whether the fullerene may bind tightly to inactivate theviral RT, we also measured levels of HIV-1 p24 in supernatants oftreated and untreated cultures. Clarified supernatants were treated withTriton X-100 (Sigma Chemicals, St. Louis, Mo.) and tested for HIV-1antigen by immunocapture with a commercial kit (Abbott, North Chicago,Ill.). In PBMC acutely infected with HIV-1, the mean EC₅₀ increased from7.3 μM in an RT assay to 50 μM in a p24 assay, suggesting virusinactivation as the primary antiviral mechanism for this compound.

To confirm these findings, inactivation studies with HIV-1_(LAI) wereperformed. Briefly, in a Nalgene (Rochester, N.Y.) tube, 75 μl of virus(approximately 200 50% tissue culture infective doses) and 2 ml ofcompound 2c (5 to 25 μM) or medium without drug were incubated for 2hours at 37° C. After incubation, 3 ml of RPMI 1640 growth medium(GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) was added to each tube. Each tube wasthen centrifuged at 40,000 rpm for 30 minutes at 4° C. in a Beckman(Columbia, Md.) 70.1 Ti rotor. The supernatant was then removed, and thevirus pellet was resuspended in fresh medium. The virions were added tohuman PBMC that had been stimulated for 2 days with phytohemagglutininin 25-cm² flasks in a total of 10 ml of growth medium. On day 6,residual virus in the supernatant was quantitated by an RT assay, asdescribed previously (R. F. Schinazi, et al., Antimicrob. AgentsChemother., 36:2423-2431, 1992). Untreated virus-infected control had amean RT activity of 1,140 kdpm per ml. When cell-free HIV-1 wasincubated for 2 hours with compound 2c and the virus was concentratedand inoculated into fresh mitogen-stimulated human PBMC as describedabove, virus infectivity was reduced by more than 95% relative to thatof the untreated control at 5 to 25 μM.

One of the well known problems in developing treatments for HIV is thatdevelopment of single agents to treat HIV-1 infections inevitablyresults in the emergence of drug-resistant virus. The availability ofAZT-resistant and -susceptible viruses allowed us to evaluate thecompounds of this invention for their susceptibilities to these virusesin acutely infected PBMC in two experiments. The susceptibility of thepretherapy isolate (HIV-1_(H112-2)) (EC₅₀, 2-8 μM) to compound 2c wascompared with that of the posttherapy AZT-resistant virus (HIV-1_(G)910-6) (EC₅₀, 2.8 μM) in lymphocytes. For this virus pair, the AZT EC₅₀sincreased more than 180-fold, from <0.001 to 0.18 μM. For these results,the variance from the means was less than 15%. With nevirapine(BI-RG587)-resistant and -susceptible HIV-1 (D. D. Richman, et al., AIDSRes. Hum. Retroviruses, 8:1065-1071, 1992), the EC₅₀ for compound 2cincreased from 0.53 to 8.7 μM, respectively, a 16-fold increase inresistance. In the same assay, the EC₅₀ for TIBO[(+)-(5s)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5methyl-6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)imidazo(4,5,1-jk)(1,4)benzodiazepin-2(1H)-thione]R82150 increased >500-fold (data not shown).

An additional compound, a water-soluble histimid derivative of C₆₀(Compound K of Table 1) was tested using the procedures described aboveand was found to have an EC₅₀ of 2.7 μM as determined in acutelyinfected cells.

TABLE 3 Summary of the Activities of Compound 2c, Phosphonoformate, andAZT Antiviral Activity (EC₅₀ [μM]) in: PBMC PBMC H9 cells Cytotoxicity(IC₅₀ [μM])^(a) in: infected with infected with infected with Vero CellsIC₅₀ Polymerases (μM) in: Compound HIV_(LAI) ^(b) HIV-2_(ROD) ^(b)HIV-1_(III) ^(c) PBMC H9 Cells (at day 3) CEM cells HIV-1 RT DNAPolymerase α 2c 7.3 5.5 10.8  >100^(d) >100 >100 >100 4.6 4.9 PFA^(e)0.43 0.44 ND^(f) >640 ND >100 >100 0.32 >100 AZT^(g) 0.0040.003 >100 >100 60 23 13 0.04 >100 ^(a)Measured by cell counts on day 6,except where indicated. ^(b)Acutely infected. The virus RT level wasdetermined on day 6 after infection. Values are means of quadruplicateexperiments. The correlation coefficient for the data was >0.96. Thevariance from the means was less than 20%. ^(c)Chronically-infected. Thevirus RT level was determined after 6 days of treatment. Values aremeans of duplicate experiments. ^(d)Measured by radiolabeled thymidineuptake on day 2 and by cell counts on day 6. ^(e)PFA, phosphonoformate.^(f)ND, not determined. ^(g)AZT-5′-triphosphate was used for the enzymeassays.

The lack of cross-resistance with AZT suggests that combination of thefullerenes with AZT could have beneficial therapeutic effect. Nocytotoxicity was demonstrable with compound 2c in uninfected, slowlydividing PBMC or rapidly dividing H9, Vero, or CEM cells. Few compoundshave demonstrated selective antiviral activity in chronically infectedcells (R. F. Schinazi, et al., AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 8:553-5791992). The apparent activity of compound 2c in acutely infected cells iscomparable to that of the recently reported TAT inhibitor Ro 5-3335developed by the Hoffmann LaRoche Co. (M. Hsu, et al., Biochem. Soc.Trans., 20:525-531. 1992). However, it is highly likely that residualdrug may inactivate the virus directly, resulting in an overestimationof the potency of the fulleroid in chronically infected H9 cells.

The compound was also evaluated for its inhibitory effect on recombinantp66/51 HIV-1 RT by using poly(rA)_(n).oligo(T)₁₂₋₁₈ as thetemplate-primer as described in Schinazi, et al. (1992, supra). Compound2c was active against this enzyme, with a median inhibitoryconcentration (IC₅₀) of 4.6 μM. This value was of the same order ofmagnitude as that noted for the antiviral assays (TABLE 3). The compounddid not demonstrate selectivity against cellular DNA polymerase α. Thefinding that compound 2c inhibits DNA polymerase α in a cell-free systemwith an IC₅₀ of 4.9 μM and also exhibits no cytotoxicity in variouscells is consistent with the proposed virucidal mechanism, since onewould anticipate some cytotoxicity if the compound were transportedintracellularly. AZT-5′ triphosphate and phosphonoformate (PFA), used aspositive controls, were effective and selective against HIV-1 RT.

Compound 2c also has antiprotease activity. In an assay with 0.1 Msodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5, at 37° C. and an enzyme concentration of0.08 μM, compound was found to have IC₅₀s of 2.0 μM against recombinantHIV-1 protease and 20 μM against pepsin (with 0.028 μM enzyme in 0.2 Msodium citrate, pH 2.0, at 37° C.). The method used for the assay wassimilar to that described by Ido, et al., J. Biol. Chem.,266:24359-24366, 1991). Inhibition was time dependent, and preincubationwith the inhibitor resulted in greater enzyme inhibition, indicating aslow binding process (data not shown).

EXAMPLE 9

Comparison of the computer models of the open and closed configurationof the HIVP molecule, shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively, revealthat upon complex formation with C₆₀, there are still gaps on eitherside of the fullerene that could be filled with non-polar groups,thereby improving binding by further decreasing solvated surface area.Further compounds B through F designed to achieve this goal were testedusing the computer modeling protocol described above to determine theamount of energy released upon complex formation with the active site ofHIVP. As can be seen in Table 4 below, as compared with compound 2cthese derivatives all exhibited a greater change in salvation,suggesting they would have substantially improved binding.

TABLE 4 A

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1595.9 133.7 265 -Ligand 574.3 32.5 0-Protein 1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −381.0 −11.3 −22.9 Å² B

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1390.2 109.8 248 -Ligand 452 0 0 -Protein1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −464.4 −2.7 −39.1 Å² C

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1430.0 110.6 260.9 -Ligand 485.2 16 0-Protein 1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −457.8 −17.9 −27.0 Å² D

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1425.4 127.5 266.3 -Ligand 461.5 30.2 0-Protein 1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −438.5 −15.2 −21.6 Å² E

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1502.2 129.4 267.4 -Ligand 511.7 30.2 0-Protein 1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −412.1 −13.3 −20.5 Å² F

Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Complex 1529.2 100.1 257.6 -Ligand 637.0 0 0-Protein 1402.6 112.5 287.9 TOTAL CHANGE −510.1 −12.4 −30.3 Å²

The foregoing description of the invention is exemplary for purposes ofillustration and explanation. It should be understood that variousmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to beinterpreted to embrace all such modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for inhibiting retrovirus in cellsinfected therewith comprising contacting the cells with apharmaceutically effective amount of a water solublebuckminsterfullerene or salt thereof selected from one or more of thefollowing structures:

where R is an organic moiety of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the buckministerfullerene is a methanofullerene selectedfrom the groups consisting of


3. The method of claim 2 wherein the buckministerfullerene is amethanofullerene of the structure


4. The method of claim 2 wherein the buckministerfullerene is amethanofullerene selected from the groups consisting of:


5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are chronically infected andthe compound is the compound selected from the group consisting of


6. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are human PBMC infected withHIV and the compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of


7. The method of claim 6 wherein the HIV is type
 1. 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the cells are chronically infected with HIV and thecompound is a compound selected from the group consisting of:


9. The method of claim 8 wherein the cells are H9 cells.
 10. The methodof claim 2 wherein the cells are human PBMC cells acutely infected withHIV-2_(ROD).
 11. A method for therapeutic treatment of HIV infection,AIDS or ARC comprising administering to a subject a pharmaceuticallyeffective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a watersoluble buckminsterfullerene, or a salt thereof selected from the groupconsisting of


12. The method of claim 11 wherein the administering of the compositionis at an EC₅₀ dose of 7 μM and uninfected PBMC cells are free fromcytotoxicity.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the composition isadministered intravenously.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein thecomposition is administered intraparenterally.
 15. The method of claim11 wherein the composition is administered orally.
 16. The method ofclaim wherein the composition is administered extra corporeally.
 17. Themethod of claim 11 wherein the composition is administered topically.